Using Crypto to Buy a House...?(Seriously)

If you’ve been quietly investing in crypto over the past few years and wondering if it would ever help you buy a home, your moment may have finally arrived, thanks to a surprising shift in federal housing policy.

At the end of June 2025, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) issued a new directive instructing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to consider Bitcoin and other crypto assets as part of your mortgage application — without requiring conversion to U.S. dollars, as long as the crypto is held on a U.S.-regulated centralized exchange (Motley Fool).

This could be a game-changer, especially for younger Americans locked out of the housing market.

We could very well be talking about this today the same way people were talking about the "internet" on the brink of the "dot.com boom."

It’s no secret that home prices have skyrocketed. Interest rates are high, inventory is low, and income growth hasn’t kept up.



A CNN survey from July 2024 found that 86% of renters would like to buy a home, but say they can’t afford one. More than half believe they may never be able to. For many younger Americans — who also face job uncertainty from AI and a slowing economy, homeownership feels more out of reach than ever.

Could Bitcoin Help?

That’s where Bitcoin comes in. It’s a disinflationary asset that has outpaced inflation and real estate prices over the last decade.

• In 2012, Bitcoin traded for under $100.

• In 2022, it hit $17,000.

• By mid-2025, it surpassed $107,000.

As The Motley Fool pointed out, a new Coinbase ad makes the case plainly: "In 2012, it took 30,000 Bitcoin to buy this house... a decade later, it took 20... today, just 5."

The message: If home prices keep rising in dollars but falling in Bitcoin, maybe the better store of value and path to ownership is digital.

What the FHFA Directive Says

The new federal directive (June 2025) requires Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to treat crypto, specifically Bitcoin and other assets held on U.S.-regulated centralized exchanges, as part of a buyer’s assets on mortgage applications. Previously, crypto had to be converted to dollars to count.

Key points:

• Applies only to centralized exchanges like Coinbase (cold storage, hardware wallets, or decentralized holdings aren’t included).

• Allows for underwriting flexibility to account for volatility and liquidity risk.

• Doesn’t yet include spot Bitcoin ETFs, since those involve indirect ownership, a possible limitation for investors in funds like BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust.

This directive is part of a broader policy vision from the Trump administration to make the U.S. the “crypto capital of the world,” according to FHFA Director William J. Pulte (Business Insider).

A Hedge or a Risk?

If Bitcoin hits $1 million, as some investors like Ark Invest’s Cathie Wood predict, crypto-backed homeownership could become a new norm for younger, crypto-native buyers.

But critics warn of volatility. Bitcoin can drop 30% in a week. If prices crash post-approval, could we see a new kind of housing crisis?

Fannie and Freddie are still government-backed. If crypto-based underwriting goes sideways, taxpayers could be exposed, a real concern raised by some economists and former housing officials (AP News).

What Do You Think?

Is this a bold new path to make the American dream attainable again or a risky move that ties our housing market to one of the most volatile asset classes in history?

• If you own crypto, will you leverage it to buy a home?

• If you're a seller or agent, are you ready to accept offers from buyers who fund their down payments with Bitcoin?

If you’ve been holding crypto and wondering how it fits into your home-buying plans — or you're curious about how this may affect the market overall — hit reply. I’m happy to break it down, walk you through your options, and make sure you’re prepared.

The future of real estate just got a little more digital — and a lot more interesting.